Toy saw mill



Jan. 26, 1960 M. ZION .TOY SAW MILL Filed 001?. 30, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 4 INVENTOR MOSES Z/o/v ATTORNEYS United States Patent .a-

TOY SAW MILL Moses Zion, Brooklyn, N.Y., assignor to The Lionel Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application October 30, 1957, Serial No. 693,456

8 Claims. (Cl. 46-39) The present invention relates to a toy accessory and is more particularly related to a device simulating a toy sawmill, wherein rough timber or logs are transformed into smooth or finished lumber planks,

In carrying out such an operation, rough lumber is shifted from its feeding station where it is visible, to a lumber cutting mill Where it is obscured from view. Smooth or finished lumber planks of similar dimensions to the rough timber, are initially held within the lumber cutting mill, obscured from view and are by the same means which conveys the rough lumber planks to the saw mill, conveyed from the sawmill and transported to a smooth lumber discharge station where they are visible. In such a simulated toy device, the continuous operation presents to the observer an impression that the rough lumber plank entering the mill is processed within the mill and ejected from the mill in the form of lumber planks commonly used in the building of houses or other commercial establishments;

The accompanying drawings show for purpose of illlustrating the present invention, one embodiment in which the invention may take form. It being understood that the drawings are illustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same. In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a front perspective view of the toy lumber mill;

Fig. 2 is a top view with parts broken awayof the lumber mill as illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detailed view of a portion of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is an sectional view taken along the line '9-9 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is sectional view taken along the line 10-10 of Fig. '3; and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of Fig. 4.

In Figs. 1 and 4, there is shown a toy lumber mill device generally indicated at 10, composed of a rough lumber feeding station 12, a lumber cutting mill Y14 and a smooth lumber discharge station 16; In the embodiment of this invention, these portions 12, 14 and 16 have been made from a molded plastic material, each .independent of the other.

A base plate 18 (Fig.4) has upturned flanges 19, provided to support portions 12, 14 and 16. The base plate also has a raised supporting bracket 20 intermediate its length. An extension plate 21 extends over one flange 19 (Fig. 4-) to therear of-the mill and is .securedto plate 2,922,249 Patented Jan. 26, 1960 18 by screw 22 through flange 23 on the interiorof the mill.

In assembling the toy lumber mill device 10, the

saw cutting mill 14 is first fixedly mounted to the base member 18. The lumber feeding station 12 and the smooth lumber discharge station 16 are then slid generally in the direction indicated by arrows 28 and 30, respectively, guided by the upstanding flanges '19 until the inner side surfaces thereof come fiushagainst the side walls '32, 34 (Fig. 1) of mill 14. Suitable means to be herein-after described fixedly position the portions "12 and 16 against lateral shifting, and extremity 36 of portion 12 and extremity 38 of portion 16 interlock as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 11, so that the screw 40 may be threaded therethrough to hold the pieces against longitudinal shifting after the initial positioning. Mill 14, which has a. removable'roof 37, includes two side walls '32 34,- a rear wall 41 and a front wall 42, moulded of one piece. It is attached to base extension 21 by screw 43 through a sloping rear wall extension 44, the mill being held in place by means of cooperating flange 45 of the mill and flange 46 of the extension 21.

This device may be made of metal, fibre, plastic 'or other suitable material which can have its exterior surface painted or otherwise decorated in any desired manner to further simulate a saw mill.

The rough lumber feeding station is generally composed of a front wall 60 (Figs. 1 and 5),'a downwardly sloping top wall 62, a rear .wall 64 and a roof extension 66 generally defining a hollow interior 68. Tab extensions 70 (Figs. 2 and 9) from the top wall 66 extend through openings in side wall 32 of the mill to prevent the lateral movement of the mill when the feeding station is as sembled to base structure 18 as hereinbefore described.

Downwardly sloping wall 62 has formed at its inner extremity, a lumber receiving pocket 72, wherein the rough lumber logs 74 as they roll in the direction of arrow 76 down inclined surface 62 are received (Fig. 5). This receiving pocket has a substantially flat base 77 and an upstanding rear extension 78, the extremity 80 of which terminates below the top wall 66 leaving an opening 82 therebetween, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Top wall 66 at a position generally above of the receiving pocket 72 is molded in a 'U-shape at 84 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. A decora tive roof 85 supported by pillars 86 is provided to lend more positive physical appearance. Pillars 86a and 86b terminate generally in the plane of top Wall 66 so as not to interfere with the passage of lumber to be later described. 7

Two raised upstanding portions 87 and 88 (Figs. 1 and 2) are provided on the inclined surface 62 and have inward .cam surfaces 90, 92 respectively, to guide rough logs 93 placed on the inclined surface 62 down into the receiving'pocket 72 Where they will be correctly positioned for pick-up and transportation as will be hereinafter described. Between the raised portion 88 and top wall 66 (Figs. 1 and 2) is an opening 94. The edge of log 9.3 is then correctly positioned as indicated at 95a (Fig. 2) so as to be to the left of the opening 94 to insure proper operation as will be later described.

The smooth lumber discharge station 16 disposed op-- posite to the receiving station 12, is composed of a front wall 110, a top wall of substantially three steps 112, 114 and 116 and a rear wall 118 (Fig. 6) generally determining the hollow interior 120. As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the exposed substantially horizontal surface of step 114 has a longitudinal slit 122 for 'a purpose to be hereinafter described and also a raised cam 124'substantially in proximity to its outer extremity. Railing 125 is provided to enhance the appearance.

When. the smooth lumberdischarge station 16 is -posi-" a '3 tioned as hereinabove described, tabs 126 extend through cooperating openings in wall 34 of the mill 14 as seen in Figs. 2, 4 and 10, to prevent lateral shifting in the same manner as dotabs 70 prevent lateral shifting of the lumber receiving station 12.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it is seen that the lumber discharge station 16 is in open and free communication with the interior of the mill 14 through the opening 128. Disposed opposite is the cooperating opening 129 in the wall 32 of mill 14 providing free communication between mill 14 and lumber receiving station 12.

In order that the illusion of the lumber sawing will be complete within the hollow interior of the mill 14 and obscured from view, is mounted a lumber transfer member 130 (Fig. 4).

This lumber transfer member 130 is fixedly mounted to the metallic base 18 by means of a screw 132 which fastens flange 133 of one leg 134 of this member to bracket 20 of base 18 while the flange 135 of the other supporting leg 136 of this lumber transfer member rests on the inner surface of flange 23 of base extension 21 as hereinbefore described. A downwardly sloping wall 137 of this member, connects legs 134-136 and extends from opening 128 to opening 129. The upper extremity of member 130 (Fig. 9) is formed into a generally U- shaped recess 139 roughly of the same general diameter as logs 93 so that the logs 93 may pass onto wall 137, through opening 129 and into the mill 14, resting in recess 139.

By means to be hereinafter described, the logs 93 move through opening 129 into the first position 93a shown in the full line position of Fig. 7, along the upper surface of wall 137 in recess 139. As each log 93 proceeds, a raised lug 140 formed on the surface of the wall 137 guides the inner end of each log 93 and also slightly lifts the inner end of each log 93 as it moves inwardly. As this inner end is raised, it strikes the cammed end 141 of the lumber transfer member 130 so as to induce a generally outward pitching movement in the direction of arrow 142 so that the log will be deposited on the downwardly inclined surface 137 and will move toward a subsequent position as shown at 93b by the dot-dash lines (Fig. 7). The logs roll down surface 137 and onto the surface 44 as shown at 930 (Fig. 4). If it should be desired to remove the logs from the mill from position 930, a sliding door 143 which is retained by molded ribs 144, on the inner surface of mill walls 32, 34 is raised by lifting on outwardly projecting tab 145. Door 143 is then raised in. the direction of arrows 146 to the dot position indicated at 143a so that logs 930 will be displaced, through the opening created by the door movement, by sloping wall 44in the direction of arrow 146a and be deposited outside the mill 14 at 9311 (Fig. 4)

Fixedly mounted within the mill and formed integrally with and suspended between the inner surfaces of walls 32 and 34 of the mill, is a smooth lumber receiving pocket member 147 (Fig. 4). This pocket member is generally formed by a permanent suspended wall generally L- shaped, including a substantially vertical wall portion 148 and the horizontal wall portion 150, with fanned out supporting ribs 152 interconnecting the portions 148, 150. Integrally formed on the inner surfaces of side walls 32 and 34 are guide lugs 156 which serve as a guide and retainer for removable brace 158. This brace has a lug or flange 160 which rests upon the bottom cooperating lugs 162 of the guides 156. A lumber receiving and holding pocket 164 is generally formed thereby between the opposite surfaces of the slidable member 158 and the vertical wall portion 148. This pocket 164 is in open communication with the exterior of the mill through the opening 166 in the roof 37 of the mill.

. Smooth lumber planks or boards 170 may then be inserted through the opening 166, in the direction of the arrow 172, and will come to rest substantially horizontally on the shelf or lug 174, inwardly bearing from the base of the wall portion 148 in the position indicated at 176 (Fig. 4). In this position, the lumber plank 176 will generally be just above the rough logs 93 which would be introduced into the mill to be on wall 137 of member 130. The shelf 174 does not protrude completely across the width of the pocket 164 but, as seen in Fig. 4, bears inwardly only*slightly so as to leave an opening 180 between its inner extremity and the inside surface of the metallic member 158.

In order to provide suitable drive for causing the operation of the saw mill to be simulated, there is mounted Within the lumber receiving station hollow interior 120, a drive motor 182. In the modification herein described this motor is similar to that described in US. copending patent application Serial No. 651,006. Since the operation of the drive mechanism does not form a part of this invention, only that portion thereof necessary to a proper understanding of this invention will be hereinafter described.

-As seen in Fig. 3, a toothed ratchet wheel or gear sprocket is mounted within the lumber receiving station 12 and an identical ratchet or sprocket 192 is mounted at the lumber discharge station 14. Suspended between these two brackets is a conveyor 193 which in this embodiment, is a transparent cellophane type film strip, having perforations 193a (Fig. 2) therethrough adapted to engage the teeth 194 upon the sprocket wheels. As the sprocket 192 is rotated, the cellophane film strip is driven in a desired direction.

Mounted on the film strip at any desired position to produce the saw mill effect, are one or more drive finger assemblies 195 (Figs. 4, 6 and 8). The drive finger assemblies 195 each include a fiat base 196 mounted by rivets 197 or other suitable means to the conveyor 193 and a base extension 198. Projecting laterally in approximately the same horizontal plane as conveyor 193 at the extremity of base extension 198 are two finger projections, one 199 upwardly bent and one 200 bent downwards. It being understood that as the conveyor follows the track indicated in dot-dash lines 201 (Fig. 3) finger 199 will bear inwards of the strip of cellophane and finger 200 will bear outwardly of the cellophane.

As the conveyor passes in its upper run, through opening 129 and into the saw mill itself from sprocket 190 to sprocket 192, it is supported against sagging on upper surface 202 of end wall 204 (Fig. 9) of the lumber transfer member 130. As it exits from mill 14 through opening 128 it rests on the upper surface 205 of the opposite end 206 of member 130 (Fig. 10). Passage of the finger projections is provided for by vertical slits 208 and 210 respectively, and cutouts 139 and 212 respectively (Figs. 9-10). On its lower course, the cellophane strip passes through the hollow interior of the respective lumber receiving, lumber discharging and saw mill stations, as is best seen in Figs. 3 and 4 and through the hollow interior 214 of the member 130.

In operation, smooth lumber 170 is first inserted, as hereinbefore described, through the opening 166 in roof 37 of mill 14 so as to rest on the shelf of the vertical wall 148.

Rough uncut lumber logs would then be loaded on the inclined surface 62 (Fig. 5) so as to roll down that surface in the direction of arrow 76 and to come to rest on the flat base 77 of the receiving pocket 72, in a position to be processed. Generally speaking, the number of logs inserted in the lumber receiving station 12 should correspond to the same number of lumber boards which would be inserted through the opening 166 into the smooth lumber receiving pocket, thereby simulating the effect that individual pieces of lumber would be in process.

When the lumber has been so positioned, by means not shown, the'drive means 182 is caused to operate. By a suitable connection the wheel 220 (Fig. 6) is caused to rotate thereby rotating the shaft 222 fixedly connected thereto and inducing rotation of the drive sprocket 192 fix d y attached toishaft 222. As hereinabove described,

causes a movementinthe conveyor 193 and for purposes of the illustration it will be presumed that the direction of movement caused would be that as indicated byarrows. 224 (Fig. 3). As the film strip or conveyor 1 93 moves in the, direction of the arrow 224, the drive finger assemblies 195 (Figs. 3 and 8) are caused to move also. As the drive. finger assembly sweeps up through the opening 94, the finger base extension 198 (Fig. 8.) will protrude through the opening 82 hereinbefore described. The, downwardly projecting, relative tothe conveyor strip, finger 199 now engages the rear edge 95a of the rough lumber log 93 which is resting in the lumber receiving pocket, 72. Under the continued driving force of the conveyor, the finger causes. the log to shift along the horizontal base 77 of the pocket 72 and through the opening 129 in the lumber mill 14 on to recess 139 on the downwardly inclined wall 137 (Big. A), of the lumber transfer member 130. The upper finger projection 200 gains access to the.

interior of mill 14 through the generally U-shaped cut-out 84 which is in communication with the opening 129 in the wall 32. This action is best illustrated in Fig. 3.

As the rough lumber is introduced into the saw mill, as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 7, the rough lumber plank 93 moves into the position 93a where it is cammed upwardly by surface 140 and outwardly by surface 141 to position 93b (Fig. 7) from whence deposited upon the inclined surface 44 of the mill 14 in position 930 adapted for further discharge through the door 143, when opened, to the position 93d. In this manner the rough lumber is picked up at its lumber receiving station 12 from pocket 72 and conveyed through opening 129 in wall 32 of the mill and in the mill ejected from its conveyor path, down the inclined surfaces of walls 137 and 44 to a position 930 where it may be removed from the mill.

As the finger assembly enters into the mill, projecting finger 200 engages the rear edge 230 of the finished lumher 176 which is resting on the shelf 174 in the lumber pocket 164. As the finger assembly .195- continues to move through the lumber mill 14 it therefore forces one finished lumber plank positioned at 176 in pocket 164 through the opening 128 and across the surface of step 114 of the lumber discharge station 16 where it is visible to view. While the rough lumber 93 has, as hereinabove described, been removed from the path of the conveyor and rolled down the surface of walls 137 and 44, the smooth lumber is now forced through the'opening along the surface of step 114 and its leading edge acted upon by the cam 124 so as to be moved outwardly and depositedon the upper surface 232 of the step 112. The finger 260 as it continues to move passes through cut-out 122 provided in the step 114.

As seen in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, two finger assemblies 195 have been provided at substantially diametrically opposite points of the conveyor 193. In this manner one rough plank will be picked up at one end of the drive (i.e., at the lumber receiving station 12) just as the finished lumber plank from the previous cycle is being deposited upon the surface 132 of the step 112. Continuous operation may therefore be provided by continuously introducing additional rough logs at station 12 and at the same time introducing a corresponding number of smooth finished planks into the opening 166 to be received in the pocket 164.

In the specific embodiment shown in order that the toy more nearly resembles a toy saw mill, the parts have been made of molded plastic and decoratively painted various colors on the outside. In addition, a simulated water tower 250 has been placed on roof 37, and a loading crane 252 mounted on the surface 232 of step 112 of lumber receiving station 16. This crane 252 has been positioned substantially adjacent to the wall 34 of mill 14 so as not to interfere with the hereinbefore described discharging of smooth lumber onto surface 232. In the front wall 42 of mill 14 placed a plurality offtransparent plastic windows 25%, through which the surface of brace158 is visible (Fig. '4). In this embodiment the brace 158 is made from aluminum or some shiny metal so as to give a desirable background for the transparent windows. Further, a doorway 258 is placedin the front wall 42 and steps 260 are provided on the exposed portion of lumber receiving station 12 and lumber discharging station 16. The purposes of these added simulated effects is to generally enhance the outward visible appearance of the toy saw mill.

I have described what I believe to be the best embodiments of my invention, however, I do not wish to be confined to the embodiments shown but what I desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A toy lumber mill forsimulating the cutting :of rough logs into finished planks comprising a lumber re ceiving station, a lumber discharge station, a sawmill intermediate said lumber receiving station and said lumber discharge station, conveying means including an endless belt conveyor extending between said lumber receiving station and said lumber discharging station and extending through said sawmill, including means to transport rough lumber visible at said lumber receiving station into said sawmill, means within said sawmill to remove the rough lumber from said conveying means, said sawmill having a roof, a lumber magazine formed in said roof by closely spaced vertical walls extending downwardly from said roof into said sawmill to a position slightly above said conveying means, a ledge formed at the bottom of said walls to support finished lumber therein, an opening at each end of said magazine above said ledge, a slot extending along the bottom of said magazine from end to end, said magazine adapted to retain finished lumber therein obscure from view, said conveyor means including means carried by said belt movable through the slot of said magazine at one open end thereof to strip a finished piece of lumber from said magazine and convey it out the other end opening to said lumber discharge station where it is visible, and means to actuate said endless belt conveyor.

2. A toy device as in claim 1 wherein said conveying means includes mounting means for said conveyor whereby one extremity of the conveyor is positioned in the lumber receiving station and the other extremity of said conveyor is positioned in the lumber discharge station.

3. A toy device as in claim 1 wherein said sawmill includes a front wall, a rear wall, two opposite side walls, said lumber receiving station, and said lumber discharge station being in open communication with said sawmill through openings in the opposite side walls of said sawmill, and a removable roof.

4. A toy device as in claim 1 wherein said lumber transfer member has two feet, each of said feet fixedly mounted to said base member, a downwardly and rearwardly inclined wall surface interconnecting said feet, the end of said inclined wall in proximity to the front wall of said mill being formed into a rough lumber receivingrecess.

5. A toy device as in claim 4 wherein said conveying means includes at least one finger assembly mounted on said conveyor, said finger assembly including two projections extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of the conveyor at a position slightly oif the edge of the conveyor, one of said finger projections extending above the plane of the conveyor and the other of said finger projections extending below the plane of the conveyor.

6. A toy device as in claim 5 wherein said conveyor is a film strip having perforations along at least one edge and said conveyor mounting means including two sprocket wheels, one of said wheels disposed in said lumber receiving station and one of said wheels disposed in said lumber discharge station, the teeth of said sprocket wheels engaging said perforation, one of said sprocket wheels mounted for free rotation, the other of said sprocket wheels fixedly mounted to a shaft, a drive wheel mounted on said shaft and connecting means extending from said drive'wheel to said drive means whereby when the drive means are actuated the conveyor is moved in a selected direction.

7. A toy lumber mill for simulating the cutting of rough logs into finished planks comprising a lumber receiving station, a lumber discharge station, a sawmill intermediate said lumber receiving and said lumber discharge stations, an endless belt conveyor extending between said lumber receiving station and said lumber discharging station and extending through said sawmill, said conveyor including means to transport lumber visible at said lumber receiving station into said sawmill, means within said sawmill to remove from said conveyor lumber transported therein from said receiving station, said sawmill including wall means to obscure the removal of lumber within said sawmill and including a roof, a magazine defined in said roof by'spaced vertical walls, and a bottom supporting ledge, an opening at each end of said magazine, a slot extending along the bottom of said magazine from one opening to the other, said conveyor including upstanding means movable through the slot of said magazine to strip a piece of lumber from said magazine and convey it out said end opening of said magazine to said lumber discharge station where it is visible, and means to actuate said endless belt.

8. A toy lumber mill according to claim 7 including a side wall, an inclined floor within said sawmill adjacent said side wall and means to deflect lumber transported into said mill from said receiving station onto said inclined floor whereby said lumber may roll down said floor to a side wall of said sawmill.

No references cited. 

